After India suffered a loss against England on Friday, Virender Sehwag has expressed his displeasure with the management for not utilizing Hardik Pandya.
India received an absolute thrashing in the second One Day International by six wickets at the World Champions England at MCA stadium in Pune. England made a meal of India’s 337 target as Jonny Bairstow scored a century while Ben Stokes smashed 99 off just 52.
India had a close brush with humiliation in the first ODI when England looked cruising to victory in 40 overs. But thanks to a freak collapse from the visitors and some excellent bowling, India pulled off a dramatic victory.
Jonny Bairstow, who blasted 94 off 66 balls in the first match, took apart India’s weaker bowlers. England had the same template in the second match, but this time Bairstow had Stokes alongside. India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya were rendered toothless as they conceded runs at 8.4 and 12 runs per over, respectively.
The one thing which was notable in both the matches was that India’s pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya did not bowl a single over. When India’s spinners were being taken to cleaners, on-air commentators were puzzled as to why Kohli was not bowling Hardik at all — especially considering that Hardik had bowled 17 overs in the recently concluded five-match T20I series.
Captain Virat Kohli, when he was asked about the reason behind not bowling Hardik in the post-match presentation, had said that it was about “managing his workload”. Citing the World Test Championship final and the upcoming Test series in England after IPL, Kohli pointed out it was crucial to have Hardik fit.
Who decides Hardik Pandya’s workload, asks Sehwag
Former India Cricketer Virender Sehwag believes Virat Kohli could have used Hardik Pandya for at least 3-4 overs, since he had bowled as many overs in the T20s against England.
After undergoing spinal surgery in 2019, Hardik returned to play the IPL for Mumbai Indians last year but did not bowl throughout the tournament. He only bowled four overs in the 2nd ODI on the Australia tour.
Sehwag wasn’t happy with the reason given that it is workload management as he believes Hardik hasn’t played much Cricket after his return.
If there are no overs in Hardik Pandya’s workload, then I feel something is wrong. Kohli said that workload management is being done for all bowlers including Pandya. But it cannot be so that he does not bowl a single over. Fielding for 50 overs is also tiring, so if he bowls four-five overs in between, it would not increase the workload much. I don’t know who decides that Pandya’s workload has increased. Because since he has returned from surgery, he has not played much cricket,
Sehwag spoke with Cricbuzz.
